DALLAS _ Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic missed more than two weeks with an ankle injury, but he wasn't going to miss an opportunity to torment the Kings.
Doncic returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a sprained right ankle, nearly posting a triple-double to lead the Mavericks to a 130-111 victory over the Kings on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Doncic finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, just missing his 13th triple-double of the season.
Doncic was listed as questionable going into the game, but he told reporters on Tuesday he planned to play against the Kings, the team that passed on him with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Doncic exchanged words with Kings coach Luke Walton after Walton received a technical foul at the end of the third quarter.
It was not immediately clear what led to the exchange, but Doncic pointed at Walton, saying: "Don't do that." Doncic later stared Walton down after draining a 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter.
Chants of "M-V-P" filled the arena repeatedly as Doncic stepped to the free-throw line to add to his point total in the second half.Doncic has a big weekend ahead of him. The 20-year-old Slovenian sensation will start for Team LeBron in Sunday's All-Star Game in Chicago.
Doncic was named Rookie of the Year last season, but this is his first All-Star Game. Going into Wednesday's game, he was averaging 28.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.7 assists.
Kristaps Porzingis posted 27 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks (33-22), who are sixth in the Western Conference playoff race. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 19 points. Seth Curry had 18.
Buddy Hield scored 22 points to lead the Kings (21-33). De'Aaron Fox had 16. Kent Bazemore added 15.
